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Superstitious? Even In Sports, This Is The Day

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2009

It's Friday the 13th – potentially bad news for the flocks of superstitious folks involved in sports. Here's a look at how this day – and superstitions in general – have affected the world of sports:

FREAKY FRIDAY

Spooky sports happenings that occurred on Friday the 13th:

* May 13, 1983 – Reggie Jackson becomes the first major-leaguer to strike out 2,000 times.

* June 13, 1986 – Padres first baseman Steve Garvey is ejected for the first time in his major-league career after arguing a triple play pulled off by the Atlanta Braves.

* April 13, 1990 – Jack Nicklaus, entering the PGA Seniors Tour event with a four-stroke lead, shoots a 78 with four double-bogeys.

* Sept. 13, 1991 – Montreal's Olympic Stadium closes after a 55-ton chunk of concrete comes loose and drops into empty seats. The Expos are forced to move four "home'' games to the road.

* Sept. 13, 1996 – Evander Holyfield, feared to have a heart problem, is cleared by doctors to fight Mike Tyson, a development that would cost Holyfield part of his ear 10 months later.

* June 13, 1997 – One week after leading the Philadelphia Flyers to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 10 years, Coach Terry Murray is fired.

* March 13, 1998 – In the final World Cup downhill run of the season, Olympic Super-G champion Picabo Street suffers a broken leg in Switzerland.

* Sept. 13, 2002 – The much-hyped Jefferson Dragons, ranked No. 11 nationally by one publication, are defeated by Armwood 24-0 in football. Said Armwood coach Sean Callahan: "It didn't look like they were the No. 11 team in the nation. They looked like the No. 11 team in the county.''

* June 13, 2003 – Lightning strikes Tropicana Field, causing an 18-minute power outage. Still, the Rays defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1.

* Aug. 13, 2004 – Hurricane Charley causes the postponement of the Bucs' exhibition opener with the Bengals at Raymond James Stadium.

WHAT'S IN A NUMBER?

These athletes found success while wearing No. 13:

* Basketball's Wilt Chamberlain – Three NBA teams, the University of Kansas and the Harlem Globetrotters retired his number.

* Rays LF Carl Crawford – Perhaps the best player in Tampa Bay franchise history.

* White Sox SS Ozzie Guillen – Still wore the number in 2005 as manager, when White Sox won first World Series in 98 years.

* Soccer's Kristine Lilly – Made more international appearances than any player in women's soccer.

* Dolphins QB Dan Marino – Retired as NFL leading in passing yards, touchdown passes.

* Jets WR Don Maynard – Joe Namath's favorite target on the Super Bowl III champions.

* Suns PG Steve Nash – Phoenix's two-time NBA MVP.

* Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez – Has 553 career homers (but how many were clean?).

* Maple Leafs C Mats Sundin – Hard to find a No. 13 in notoriously superstitious NHL.

* Cardinals QB Kurt Warner – Owns the three best individual passing games in Super Bowl history.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Former Bucs QB Brad Johnson (Sept. 13, 1968) is the only Super Bowl-winning quarterback who was born on Friday the 13th.

FOR GOOD LUCK

Notable superstitions by recent professional athletes:

* Wade Boggs – Hall of Famer ate only chicken on game days.

* Goran Ivanisevic – If he won a tennis match, the next day, he would go to the same restaurant, eat the same food and try to talk to the same people.

* Michael Jordan – Wore his blue University of North Carolina shorts under his Chicago Bulls' uniform.

* Kevin Rhomberg – Obscure MLB player (41 games with Indians in early 1980s). When touched by an opposing player, he had to touch that player back (even when tagged out on the baseline).

* Turk Wendell – Former MLB pitcher chewed licorice on the mound, ran off the field while leaping over the baseline and brushed his teeth between each inning.

POPULAR SPORTS SUPERSTITIONS

These are universally accepted ways to help good fortune:

* Playoff Beards – Not shaving during a postseason run.

* Mum's The Word – Never talking about a no-hitter or perfect game while it's in progress.

* Watch Your Step – Not stepping on the baselines while running on or off the field.

* Tapping The Pads – In hockey, tapping the goalie's shin pads for good luck.

* No Changes – Changing rods while fishing is considering bad luck.

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